Unsung Musicals II Studio Cast

This is the second fine CD in the series of three. These selections may be songs that are not well known from shows in the same category, but some of these are real gems, sung by fine show singers. My favorites are "Lawyers" (from A Broadway Musical), "Everything in the World" (The Yearling), "Smashing New York Times" (also A Broadway Musical), "Run Cinderella" (Foxy), and "Phantom of the Opera" (title song from the Rupert Holmes show). There was a third CD in this series. If its not longer available, they should reissue it. Its on a par with the other two in the series.

I love hearing songs from forgotten and lost musicals, and I enjoyed Unsung Musicals I, but I was disappointed with this one. "Lawyers" is easily the best song on the CD. Most of the other songs are ballads, and dull ones at that. (Admittedly, I am not a big ballad fan.) Looks like Bruce Kimmel's song selection process kind of flattened out here. Why, for example, did they choose a ballad from Foxy, when by all accounts the songs originally sung by Bert Lahr in that show were a lot of fun? On the other hand, the singers are very respectable and always worth listening to. Glory Crampton definitely needs more leading roles! My advice is to listen to the song snippets first, to determine if these songs are your thing.

The Unsung Musicals albums are a treasure for those who are "mega-fans" of musical theatre. All the songs share the tragic fate of being in a musical that just never made it on the Great White Way.Some of the songs are somewhat cloying, such as "One Promise Come True." However, there are also some real gems, such as "Lawyers," which has some clever rhymes and a catchy tune. You also get the added bonus of hearing some great singers perform such as Sally Mayes, Rebecca Luker and Davis Gaines.Overall, this recording is great for both its entertainment and its historical value.

Any album that gives us Jason Graae singing "Smashing, New York Times" is worth having.